Leather factory loses support
The HCM City People's Committee has asked the Department of Resources and Environment to immediately suspend operations of the Hao Duong Leather Joint-Stock Company for its continued violations of environmental regulations.
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| The company has been discharging untreated waste water into the Dong Dien River for years, environmental police said last week. |
In a document sent to the department on Monday, Chairman Le Hoang Quan said the company had repeatedly broken the law, affecting the living conditions of local residents in the region and creating an unsafe situation, as reported by many in the public.
Located in Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park, Hao Duong has repeatedly discharged untreated waste water into the Dong Dien River in HCM City's Nha Be District, the city People's Committee said.
The department was asked to co-operate with the police, inspectors, the departments of Construction, Justice, Planning and Investment, and Science and Technology, as well as the HCM City Export Processing and Industrial Zone Authority (HEPZA), to investigate the complaints about the company made by residents.
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| Located in Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park, Hao Duong has repeatedly discharged untreated waste water into the Dong Dien River in HCM City's Nha Be District.— Photos vnexpress |
The decision came after HEPZA proposed on Thursday that the People's Committee should suspend the operations for repeated violations of the laws on environmental protection.
HEPZA also asked city authorities to order the city's Department of Resources and Environment to withdraw the license granted to the company.
Nguyen Huu Tin, deputy chairman of the city People's Committee, said the company must be punished for its repeated violations.
Since 2007, the company has been fined nine times for discharging untreated waste water.
The company has been discharging untreated waste water into the Dong Dien River for years, environmental police said last week.
In September last year, the city People's Committee had fined the company VND340 million ($16,150) and temporarily suspended its operations. Earlier this month, the company was fined VND75 million ($3,560).
According to Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park JSC, Hao Duong uses two sources of water, supplied from Hiep Phuoc IP and Dong Dien River. — VNS
